Flooded water chiller



Bec. 2o, 1960 Filed Oct. 17, 1958 C. D. WARE FLOODED- WATER CHILLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHESTER D. WARE BM @www ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 c. D. WARE FLOODED WATER CHILLER Filed 001'.. 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N Q. G cu G @D 0 P v 83%@82 @GQQQQ @0 GOQCQQ@ Q O @@Q@ O m g FIG. 6

Qt 2 IO I@ @Q @@Q O ,@OQ@ @D QQ@ C) 3 C, CHESTER D. WARE ATTORNEYS lnited States Patent FLOODED WATER CHILLER Chester D. Ware, La Crosse, Wis., assignor to The I'rane Company, La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 767,886

13 Claims. (Cl. 62-471) This invention relates to heat exchangers and more particularly to heat exchangers of the type which are adapted to cool water and which are commonly referred to as water Chillers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and novel water Chiller which overcomes the oil return problem normally present in ooded water Chillers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient ooded type water Chiller which is compact, easily assembled, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A third object of the invention is to provide a flooded water Chiller which uses an envelope surrounding the refrigerant outlet to ensure the flow of refrigerant and oil to the outlet in order to return the oil to the coinpressor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ooded water Chiller with an envelope surrounding the refrigerant outlet in which the liquid refrigerant separates from the oil-refrigerant mixture in the envelope and the oil is carried along the envelope and is swept therefrom by the rapidly moving refrigerant vapor.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide a flooded Chiller with an envelope surrounding the refrigerant outlet and some of the tubes in the upper portion of the Chiller in order to provide superheat of the leaving refrigerant vapors within the Chiller shell.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form part of this application, arid in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred form of the water Chiller;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the distributor shown in section in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the envelope shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a Cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a modified view similar to Fig. 1 showing the refrigerant inlet and outlet located in a different position; and

Fig. 6 is another modified view similar to Fig. 4 showing a different envelope construction.

Referring generally to drawings, like elements will be referred to by like reference numbers in all embodiments of the invention.

Looking now specifically to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 4, numeral 10 represents a shell preferably of steel having end plates 12 and 14. End covers 16 and 18 are secured to the end plates by bolts or rivets in the usual manner to provide header chambers. Longitudinal tubes of copper or any other suitable metal are secured to end plates 12. and 14 to provide Communication between the end covers 16 and 18 for the passage of uid to be Cooled. Conventional type tube supports 21 are spaced Within the shell to give internal support to tubes 20. The chamber in end cover 16 is divided by a partition 22 to form inlet chamber 23 and discharge chamber 25. An inlet port 24 is adapted to be connected to a source of liquid to be conditioned and outlet port 26 is adapted to be connected to a discharge line to convey cooled liquid to the point of use.

superimposed over the refrigerant inlet 28 is a dis.

-ber 39 which is welded or otherwise attached to the tubev supports 21. Envelope 34 has a cut out portion 40 to allow the refrigerant and oil mixture to pass from within the Chiller body to the discharge outlet 42. Adjacent the discharge outlet, the envelope is increased in diameter as at 44 since the refrigerant is practically in the vapor ystate. A portion of the tubes 2t) extends through the envelope 34 and for practical purposes a sufhcient number of tubes should be provided so that a minimum of 10% of refrigerant is evaporated therein.

In operation, warm fluid is introduced through inlet port 24 into inlet chamber 23 from whence it passes Vinto tubes 20 and is circulated through the Chiller where lthe refrigerant picks up the heat therefrom and thereby chills the water. Preferably the warm fluid enters in a position so that it contacts with the leaving superheated refrigerant vapor in order to further enhance superheating of the refrigerant vapor. The warm iiuid is shown making two passes in the Chiller but may circulate through other pass arrangements such asy one, three, four, etc., as may be desired. After circulating through the Chiller, the iluid returns to a discharge Chamber 25 from where it is discharged through discharge port 26 to the .point of use.

Liquid refrigerant and oil from a compressor-condenser unit enters the Chiller through inlet port 38 and is forced through slots 32 in distributor bracket 30 into the body of the Chiller. A liquid level of the refrigerantoil mixture is maintained at the level denoted as 46. The refrigerant and oil mixture tends to separate towards the inlet end of the envelope 34 so that a Combination of refrigerant vapor and liquid refrigerant oil mixture enters the envelope at 40. 'lhe envelope provides a Confined area of predetermined size so the velocity of the 11errigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the oilliquid mixture as the mixture flows towards the outlet 42. Oil which is separated from the oil-liquid mixture when the liquid refrigerant vaporizes is carried along the envelope by the rapidly moving refrigerant and is swept from the envelope into the outlet by the refrigerant vapor. Obviously, this arrangement overcomes the problem of returning the oil to the compressor normally encountered in Chillers of the hooded type. The provision of the confined envelope increases the velocity of the vapor so that the oil is actually swept out of the outlet 42. Prior to this invention when the refrigerant vaporized or separated from the oil-liquid mixture, the oil tended to fall back into the bottom of the Chiller thereby cutting off the supply of oil required to keep the other Components of the refrigeration system, such as the com* pressor, in perfect operating condition.

Looking at Fig. 5, there is shown a modified Chiller4 design. Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 1 except that the refrigerant oil inlet 38 and outlet 42 are centrally located in the casing shell ylll'. Necessarily, the distributor bracket 30 is 1also located centrally so that the refrigerant-oil mixture may now pass to both ends of envelope 34. An additional envelope opening 40 is` provided adjacent end plate `12 so that the refrigerant vapor and the oil-liquid mixture may pass into 'both ends of the envelope 34. Either the envelope of Fig. 4 or Fig. 6 may be used with this construction.

Fig. 6 shows a modified envelope construction which may be used with either of the forms shown'in Figs. 1-4 or Fig. `5. In Figs. l-4 and Fig. 5, theenvelope 34 ,is shown as a completely separate unit from the chillershell 10. The modification of Fig. 6 eliminates vthe separate envelope unit and merely uses a plate member 58 'welded or otherwise secured to the shell 1() -to formthe envelope. This construction is cheaper to produce 4and easier to seal against leaks.

If desired, in all forms of the invention, holes or slots may be provided 'in the envelope downstream from the envelope inlets 40 to by-pass part of the vapor and part of the oil-"liquid mixture in order to vary the capacity of the chiller and to vary the liquid level 46.

(bviously, I have provided a new and novel flooded chiller design which alleviates the problem of returning oil -to the refrigeration compressor normally found in other flooded chiller designs. Further, my Chiller design provides an internal superheating chamber within the chil-ler shell so costly and unsightly accessory apparatus is not required in order to superheat the refrigerant vapor.

Although I have described in detail the preferred embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention and I desire to be limited only by the claims.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, means in communication with said tubes to circulate fluid in said tubes, a liquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet means at the kbottom of said shell, a perforated iluid distributox` member located over said mixture inlet means, means forming a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell, means forming an envelope of confined area of a predetermined size in the upper portion of said heat exchanger surrounding some o f said tubes and in communication with said vapor-oil outlet, and means forming an opening in said envelope whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the liquid refrigeranboil mixture as the mixture iiows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

2. The structure of claim l wherein said envelope is spaced from said shell.

3. VThe structure of claim 1 wherein said envelope consists of a base member and a substantially semi-cylindrical top member attached to said base member.

4. A heat exchanger comprising a shell, support means closing vthe ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, meansin communication with said tubes to circulate iluid in said tubes, a liquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet means at the bottom of said shell, a perforated fluid distributor member located over said mixture inlet means, means forming a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell, a plate member connected to said shell and forming a chamber of small area in the top of said heat exch-anger `and a chamber of large area in the bottom of Said heat exchanger, some of said tubes extending through said small chamber, said small chamber being in communcation with said vapor-oil outlet, and means forming an opening in said envelope whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the `liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the liquid refrigerant-oil mixture as the mixture flows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

5. A heat exchanger comprising a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, means in communication'with said tubes to circulate uid in ysaid tubes, a liquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet at the bottom of said shell substantially at the midpoint between said supporting members, a perforated `fluid distributor member located over said mixture inlet means, a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell located substantially at the midpoint between said supporting members, means forming an envelope of contined area of a predetermined size in the upper portion of said heat exchanger surrounding some of said tubes and in communicatiton with said vapor-oil outlet and means forming openings in said envelope adjacent said support members whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the Aliquid refrigerant-oil mixture as the mixture flows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said lenvelope is spaced from said shell.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said envelope consists of a base member and a substantially semi-cylindrical top member attached to said base member.

8. A heat exchanger comprising -a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, means in communication with said tubes to circulate iiuid in said tubes, a lliquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet at the bottom of said shell substantially at the mid point between said supporting members, a perforated uid distributor member located over said mixture inlet means, a Vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell located substantially at the midpoint between said supporting means, a plate member .connected to said shell and forming a chamber of small area in the top of said heat exchanger and a chamber of large area. in the bottom of said heat exchanger, some of said tubes extending through said small chamber, said small chamber being in communication with said vapor-oil outlet, and means forming openings in said plate member -adjacent said support members whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the liquid refrigerant-.oil mixture as the mixture flows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

9. A heat exchanger comprising a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, means in communication with said tubes to circulate fluid in said tubes, a liquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet at the bottom of saidshell adjacent one of said support members, a perforated fluid distributor member located over said mixture inlet means, a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell adjacent said support member which said liquid refrigerant-oil inlet is adjacent to, means forming an envelope of confined area of predetermined size in the upper portion of said heat exchanger surrounding some of said tubes and in communication with said vapor-oil outlet; and means forming an opening in the envelope adjacent the support member opposite to said support member which said vapor-oil outlet is adjacent to whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the liquid refrigerant-oil mixture .as the mixture ilows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet. i

10..l`he `structureof claim 9 wherein said envelope is spaced from said shell.

ll. The structure of claim 9 wherein said envelope consists of a base member and a substantially semi-cylin drical top member attached to said base member.

12. A heat exchanger comprising a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members, means in communication with said tubes to circulate uid in said tubes, a liquid refrigerant-oil mixture inlet at the bottom of said shell adjacent one of said support members, a perforated Huid distributor located over said mixture inlet means, a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portion of said shell adjacent said support member which said liquid refrigerant-oil inlet is adjacent to, a plate member connected to said shell and forming a chamber of small area in the top of said heat exchanger and a chamber of large area in the bottom of said heat exchanger, some of said tubes extending through said small chamber, said small chamber being in communication with said vapor-oil outlet, and means forming an opening in the plate member adjacent the support member opposite to said support member which said vapor-oil outlet is adjacent to whereby the velocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the small chamber evaporates from the liquid refrigerantoil mixture as the mixture ows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

13. An evaporator comprising a shell, support members closing the ends of said shell, a plurality vof tubes supported by and extending through said supporting members'ymeans in communication with said tubes to circulat'eiluid in said tubes, a liquid refrigerant-,oil mixture inlet means at the bottom of said shell, tluiddistributing means located over said mixture inlet means, means forming a vapor-oil outlet in the upper portionof said shell, means forming an envelope in the upper portion of said evaporator surrounding some of said tubes'and in communication with said vapor-oil outlet, and means forming an opening in said envelope whereby thevelocity of the refrigerant vapor is increased so that the liquid refrigerant entering the envelope evaporates from the liquid refrigerant-oil mixture as the mixture ows towards the vapor-oil outlet thereby sweeping the oil separated from the mixture towards the outlet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,989,430 

